Downey teen awarded military scholarship

DOWNEY – Young Marines Master Gunnery Sergeant Destini Bocanegra, of Downey, earned the Jimmy Trimble Scholarship from the American Veterans Center.

The honors were bestowed during the 24th Annual Conference of the American Veterans Center on Nov. 6 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Bocanegra will escort WWII veterans to Guam and Iwo Jima next spring for the Reunion of Honor which is the 77th anniversary of the battles. She will join nine other youth members of the Young Marines as they travel to the island of Iwo Jima which is accessible only one day a year.

“It’s an honor to have earned this award,” she said. “It’s not just a trip to Guam and Iwo Jima; it’s a reminder of all the hard work both myself and my fellow recipient put in to earn it. The Young Marines has always set me up for success, and this is just another step helping me towards my goal of being a Marine pilot.”

Bocanegra is a member of the Southland Young Marines located in Pomona. She joined the Young Marines in 2016 when she was 11.

Today, Bocanegra is 17 and a senior at Warren High School.

The award is presented annually to two Young Marines who exemplify the fine qualities of James “Jimmy” Trimble III. Trimble was a star athlete who passed up the opportunity to play professional baseball to first serve his country in the Marines. He died at age 19 on March 1, 1945, on Iwo Jima.

Young Marines Jimmy Trimble Scholarship winners Destini Bocanegra and Eric Phung with Rob Riggle, actor, comedian, and LtCol USMC (retired), at the American Veterans Center Honors Gala on Saturday, Nov. 6 in Washington D.C. Riggel was the host of “American Valor: A Salute to Our Heroes,” which will premiere on many TV stations in November.

“Jimmy Trimble gave up professional baseball and despite many other offers, he remained focused on serving his country and remaining in combat,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “We are grateful to the American Veterans Center for keeping his spirit alive and for allowing the Young Marines to play a key role in that effort.”

Bocanegra has earned her DEA device, the Presidential Volunteer Service Award on a Gold Level, a meritorious mast for outstanding service as a school SGTMAJ, Unit and Battalion Young Marine of the Year, and was in the top 10 in her Advanced Leadership School at National Leadership Academy this past summer.

“The best part of the Young Marines Program are the friendships I have made with other Young Marines,” she said. “The Young Marines has taught me many life skills that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life. The biggest thing that the program has taught me is to have confidence in whatever I do.”

Outside of the Young Marines, Bocanegra has earned the Student of the Month award four times in a row, is the league champion for shot put in track and field, earned her varsity letter for marching band, received a County of Los Angeles Commendation, earned the Distinguished Service to Youth Award by the City of San Dimas, and is a member of the California Scholarship Federation. She also received a Marine Corps League Commendation from Detachment 1347.

Bocanegra is the daughter of Patricia and Fred Bocanegra. She has two sisters - Kimberly and Samantha Herrera and one brother - Gilbert Herrera. Her father, Fred, served in the Marine Corps for four years and was honorably discharged in 1991 after serving during Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield.

Bocanegra plans on attending the United States Naval Academy with a major in Political Science and a minor in Chinese or Japanese. Upon graduating the Naval Academy, she hopes to be a Marine or Navy pilot. Following her term, she plans to go back to college to become a lawyer.